Exceptional Tolerance Research Articles

Rapid and General Amination of Aryl Boronic Acids and Esters Using O-(Diphenylphosphinyl)hydroxylamine (DPPH).

O-(Diphenylphosphinyl)hydroxylamine (DPPH) is a general reagent for the conversion of (hetero)aryl boronic acids and esters to primary anilines. The transformation proceeds rapidly at rt and exhibits a broad substrate scope and exceptional functional-group tolerance. In terms of rate, the reaction is relatively insensitive to the electronic properties of the substrate, in contrast to similar reactions using electrophilic amination reagents such as hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid. Consequently, this protocol is particularly useful for accessing electron-deficient (hetero)aryl anilines, which had been challenging to prepare using prior methods.

Exploring the growth and phytoremediation efficacy of Suaeda fruticosa in agricultural soil contaminated by shrimp aquaculture

Plants face numerous environmental challenges from biotic and abiotic stressors, with soil salinization emerging as a significant global concern. The coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, face severe environmental challenges due to discharge of saline water from shrimp farms exacerbates this issue, compromising the viability of paddy and other crops in the vicinity. This study explores the phytoremediation potential of Suaeda fruticosa in addressing soil salinity resulting from shrimp farming activities under field conditions over a 120-day period to restore soil health in salt affected soil. This research demonstrates Suaeda fruticosa’s exceptional salt tolerance and bioaccumulation potential in facilitating soil restoration. Significant enhancements were observed in various growth parameters, including 466% increase in plant height, 338% in fresh weight and 387% in dry weight. Biochemical parameters also showed substantial enhancements with total chlorophyll, protein, proline, phenol, and glycinebetaine levels increasing by 655%, 588%, 690%, 153%, and 531%, respectively. Enzymatic activities exhibited notable elevations as well, with catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities escalating by 258%, 587%, and 121% respectively, indicating robust adaptation to saline environments. Moreover, Suaeda fruticosa exhibited remarkable bioaccumulation capabilities, accumulating 461 kg NaCl ha−1. This led to substantial improvements in soil characteristics, including a reduction in pH from 8.8 to 6.49, electrical conductivity from 5.7 to 1.53 dSm−1, and sodium adsorption ratio from 16.1 to 4.4 mmol L−1. The successive cultivation of Suaeda fruticosa in this study, has proven to be a viable strategy for reclaiming salt-affected lands, thereby alleviating a significant constraint on crop productivity.

Polyoxometalate Confined Synthesis of BiVO4 Nanocluster for Urea Production with Remarkable O2/N2 Tolerance.

Urea electrosynthesis from flue gas and NO3- under operating conditions represents a promising alternative technology to traditional energy-intensive industrial process. Herein, we explore a polyoxometalate confined synthesis strategy to prepare ultrafine BiVO4 nanocluster by pre-incorporating [V10O28]6- into NH2-MIL-101-Al (MIL) framework. The resulting BiVO4@MIL-n can efficiently drive co-reduction of NO3- and CO2 to urea. A record urea yield of 63.4 mmol h-1 gcat-1 was achieved under CO2/O2 mixed gases (33% O2) atmosphere, and comparable performance can be obtained by feeding flue gas, demonstrating remarkable O2/N2 tolerance and potential feasibility for urea production under operating conditions. Systematic investigations revealed that MIL carrier with -NH2 group can enrich CO2, and BiVO4 nanocluster can reduce both NO3- and CO2 to ensure efficient urea synthesis even in the presence of O2. This work demonstrates the key role of in situ growth of BiVO4 nanocluster within a NH2-framework in facilitating urea electrosynthesis with exceptional tolerance to O2/N2.

Shape Memory Polyurethane Foams With Tunable Mechanical Properties and Radiation Tolerance for Breast Repair and Reconstruction.

This study developed a shape memory polyurethane foam (SM-PUF) with tunable mechanical properties and exceptional radiation tolerance for potentially implanting tissue defects after mastectomy. The PUFs were synthesized via an insitu foaming strategy using water as a foaming agent, incorporating 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) as the rigid segment and both polyoxytetramethylene glycol and polycaprolactone as the soft segment. The resultant PUFs possess an open-cell structure with a pore size of 30 ~ 800 μm, which achieves a compressive stress of 0.04 MPa under 70% compression strain and a tensile elongation of 667.9%. PUFs exhibit body temperature (37°C)-responsive softening and shape memory abilities, with recovery and fixation ratios reaching 88% and 98%, respectively. It was verified that PUFs can resist 40 Gy radiotherapy without changing their mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This study introduces an innovative approach to produce customizable foam for the reconstruction of implant prostheses for the breast.

Interaksi Sosial dalam Hubungan Muslim-Kristian di Kota Kinabalu dan Keningau, Sabah

The people of Sabah are known for their exceptional tolerance and ability to foster peaceful coexistence. Although socioreligious relations are deteriorating due to various factors, the situation in Sabah is quite different. This study explains how social interaction between Muslims and Christians in Sabah turns cultural understanding through family ties and neighbours/friends of other religions. A total of 234 respondents were involved in this quantitative case study in Kota Kinabalu and Keningau. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations and a chi-square test to describe the distribution of responses for variables of religions between Muslim and Christian respondents. The findings revealed that social interaction between Muslims and Christians in the studied areas was positive. Muslims and Christians practised cultural understanding during festivals and everyday activities. It might be argued that tolerance and mutual understanding across different religions are nurtured through the intertwining of contacts. The family bonding and local ties allow an unlimited connection, which helps to lessen religious gaps in understanding. This study concludes that religion should not be considered solely as a source of conflict but rather serves as a means of fostering a spirit of coexistence.

Construction of Spiro Systems from Tetrathiafulvalene Derivatives by a Pinacol‐like Rearrangement

An efficient and generalized pinacol‐like rearrangement of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives has been achieved using 2, 2, 6, 6‐tetramethylpiperidine oxide (TEMPO) as a key reagent, in place of a traditional metal catalyst. Examination of numerous TTF derivatives demonstrates the reaction's exceptional tolerance to a variety of substituents, achieving an overall yield of up to 97%. The optimization of reaction conditions and evaluation of reaction applicability were achieved by varying factors such as the redox potential (E11/2) of the substrate molecule, substituent type, substituent position, number of substituents, and structural symmetry. Additionally, the reaction mechanism was explored using isotopic labeling, real‐time monitoring UV‐Vis absorption spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Specifically, TTF is oxidized to TTF+• by p‐toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH·H2O). TTF+• subsequently reacts with TEMPO and H2O to form a pinacol‐like intermediate, which undergoes a rearrangement to release a 2, 2, 6, 6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐ol (TEMPOH) molecule, forming the rearranged product as a hydrogenated cation, this intermediate undergoes deprotonation, leading to the formation of the final spiro product. This investigation led to the identification of a class of reactions for the efficient conversion of TTF derivatives into their spiro products via pinacol‐like rearrangement reaction.

Non‐Fluorinated Cyclic Ether‐Based Electrolyte with Quasi‐Conjugate Effect for High‐Performance Lithium Metal Batteries

AbstractFluorinated ether‐based electrolytes are commonly employed in lithium metal batteries (LMBs) to attenuate the coordination ability of ether solvents with Li+ and induce inorganic‐rich interphase, whereas fluorination inevitably introduces exorbitant production expenses and environmental anxieties. Herein, a non‐fluorinated molecular design strategy has been conceptualized by incorporating methoxy as an electron‐donating group to generate a quasi‐conjugate effect for tuning the affinity of Li+‐solvent, thereby enabling the cyclic ether solvent 2‐methoxy‐1,3‐dioxolane with weak solvation ability and exceptional Li metal‐compatibility. Accordingly, the optimized electrolyte exhibits anion‐dominant solvation structure for inorganic‐rich interphase and fulfills an impressive Li plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency of 99.6 %. As‐fabricated Li||LiFePO4 full cells with limited Li (N/P=2.5) showcase a high capacity retention of 83 % after 150 cycles, indicating excellent cycling stability. Moreover, the full LMBs demonstrate exceptional tolerance towards a wide temperature range from −20 °C to 60 °C, displaying a remarkable capacity retention of 90 % after 110 cycles at −20 °C. Such a molecular design strategy offers a promising avenue for electrolyte engineering beyond fluorination in order to cultivate high‐performance LMBs.

Genome-wide study of drought tolerance traits in wild jujube

BackgroundWild jujube trees in Ningxia, China, demonstrate exceptional drought tolerance. The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with drought resistance and linked genes could significantly enhance molecular breeding efforts for this species. This study involved the measurement of nine drought resistance indicators were measured in 150 wild jujube trees from five regions in Ningxia. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were carried out using a range of mixed linear models to pinpoint SNP markers linked to drought resistance.ResultsThe coefficients of variation for the nine leaf traits in wild jujube trees ranged from 14.76 to 62.17%, with broad-sense heritability estimates falling between 0.84 and 0.99. Through GWAS analysis, a total of 12 significant SNPs and 162 potential genes associated with drought resistance were detected. This SNPs explained phenotypic variance ranging from 20.74 to 50.37%. Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation highlighted five crucial candidate genes‒ZjMYB44, ZjUCLOC, ZjDnaJ50, ZjUCHL22 and ZjHSFB‒linked to drought tolerance in wild jujube. These genes demonstrated a positive correlation with drought tolerance within the wild jujube population.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that these five genes likely play a pivotal role in conferring drought tolerance in wild jujubes. This study offers new insights to support the development of drought-resistant jujube varieties, thereby contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and bolstering food security in arid regions.

Sauerkraut‐derived LAB strains as potential probiotic candidates for modulating carbohydrate digestion attributing bacterial organic acid profiling to antidiabetic activity

AbstractSauerkraut‐derived lactic acid bacterial (LAB) strains have gained attention due to their potential health benefits. This study focuses on evaluating seven Sauerkraut‐derived RAMULAB strains isolated from sauerkraut, aiming to identify promising candidates for modulating α‐glucosidase (AG) and α‐amylase (AM) enzymatic functions. RAMULAB strains with remarkable probiotic potential can contribute to the digestive health and manage conditions like diabetes. Identifying robust candidates from sauerkraut, a fermented food, holds promise for natural and cost‐effective probiotic sources. The RAMULAB strains underwent extensive characterization, including identification through 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. Their tolerance to harsh conditions, adherence properties, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant potential, and inhibition of AG and AM were assessed. In silico analyses explored their molecular interactions, particularly with hydroxycitric acid, a potential antidiabetic compound. Among the RAMULAB strains, RAMULAB48 emerged as a standout candidate. It displayed exceptional resilience to acidic bile (≥97%), and simulated gastrointestinal conditions (≥95%), highlighting its suitability for probiotic applications. RAMULAB48 exhibited robust adherence properties, including cell‐surface hydrophobicity (80%), autoaggregation (42%), coaggregation with pathogens (≥33%), and adhesion to epithelial cells. Additionally, all seven isolates demonstrated gamma‐hemolysis and resistance to antibiotics (Kanamycin, Methicillin, and Vancomycin), while displaying strong antibacterial properties against foodborne pathogens. These RAMULAB strains also exhibited varying degrees of antioxidant activity, with RAMULAB48 displaying the highest potential (≥41%). In terms of antidiabetic activity, cell‐free supernatant (CS) obtained from RAMULAB48 expressed the highest inhibition levels, notably inhibiting yeast AG by an impressive 59.55% and AM being by a remarkable 67.42%. RAMULAB48 produced organic acids, including hydroxycitric acid (28.024 mg/mL), which showed promising antidiabetic properties through in silico analyses, indicating favorable interactions with the target enzymes. This study identifies Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RAMULAB48, a Sauerkraut‐derived RAMULAB strain, as a promising probiotic candidate with exceptional tolerance, adherence properties, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant potential, and antidiabetic effects. The presence of hydroxycitric acid further underscores its potential in managing diabetes.

Thienyltriazine Triamides: Thickness Insensitive Interlayer Materials Featuring Fine-Tuned Optoelectronic and Aggregation Characters for Efficient Organic Solar Cells.

A novel class of thienyltriazine triamides (TTTAs) was facile synthesized and firstly used as cathode interlayers (CILs) for organic solar cells (OSCs). By utilizing different aromatic arms and pendant polar groups, their optoelectronic properties and aggregation behaviors were effectively modulated. The combination of thienyltriazine (TT) core, naphthylamide arm and imidazole pendant group endows TT-N-M with suitable energy levels, intensified work function tunability, higher conductivity, and well-balanced crystallinity and film-forming ability, boosting both the performance and stability of OSCs significantly. Remarkably, the solar cell efficiency remains stable at around 90 % of the optimal efficiency even as the interlayer thickness varied from 5 to 95 nm, demonstrating its insensitivity to thickness. Moreover, TT-N-M exhibits compatibility with various active layer systems, achieving a maximum efficiency of 19.60 % for single-junction solar cell. Its exceptional tolerance to thickness fluctuations and performance establishes a new benchmark for multi-armed CIL-based OSCs, also positioning them among the most high-performing CIL materials documented thus far. This work not only broadens the scope of CIL materials for OSCs but also offers deep insights into design strategies and structure-properties relationships, being beneficial for the future development of more efficient CIL materials for organic optoelectronic applications.

Enhancing tomato growth and soil fertility under salinity stress using halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

Soil salinization is a critical issue that not only hampers the efficiency and sustainability of global agricultural production but also poses significant challenges to the achievement of sustainable development goals across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (HPGPR) have the potential to mitigate abiotic stress, foster plant growth, and bolster the stress resistance capabilities of crops. This study conducted the isolation, identification, and characterization of HPGPR originating from a saline-alkali orchard area in northwest China. The efficacy of the isolated bacterial strains was evaluated through potted plant experiments, assessing the growth of tomato plants under in vitro conditions and under varying salinity stress. Ultimately, the study investigated the influence of these HPGPR on soil physicochemical properties, enzymatic activities, and the structure and composition of the microbial community. Upon isolating 12 bacterial strains, we conducted an in vitro assessment of their salt tolerance, ultimately singling out three robust isolates, which exhibited exceptional salt tolerance. Detailed 16S rRNA gene sequencing and meticulous taxonomic evaluation systematically assigned these isolates to Priestia endophyticus GSCK1 (accession number: OR569048), Bacillus atrophaeus GSCK2 (accession number: OR569061), and Serratia fonticola GSCK6 (accession number: OR569062), respectively. These strains exhibited notable biochemical and plant growth-promoting traits, including enzymatic activities and the production of indole-3-acetic acid. They significantly enhanced plant growth metrics and soil fertilities, particularly strain GSCK6, which also reshaped the soil microbial community, augmenting beneficial microbe abundance. The HPGPR treatment notably improved soil pH, nutrient availability, enzymatic activities, and reduced soil electrical conductivity, underscoring their potential in agricultural resilience against salinity. The eco-friendly salt stress mitigation strategy of HPGPR not only enhances soil quality and promotes plant growth by regulating the composition and function of microbial communities, but also provides a novel solution for global agricultural production. This approach is conducive to increasing crop yield and quality, reducing the limitations of saline-alkali land on agricultural production, and promoting food security and sustainable agricultural development.

Sulfide addition accelerates anammox sludge granulation and promotes microbial cooperation

The granular anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) system has attractive advantages in tolerance to environmental-stress and enhancement of nitrogen removal capacity. Sulfide addition can improve nitrogen removals in anammox systems via inducing sulfur denitrification, yet its function in the improvement of the property of anammox granular sludge remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the variations in the morphological and microbial properties of the anammox sludge response to different sulfide concentrations (Na2S: 10–100 mg/L) through a long-term experiment. By comparing the sludge diameter and heme c content, it comes that a relatively low sulfide (S/N [nitrate] molar ratio of 0.18–0.50) significantly promoted the average diameter and heme c concentration of sludge by 25–175 % and 75–95 %, respectively, compared to that of both without sulfide addition and a high sulfide addition (S/N > 0.85). This enhancement is primarily because a low amount of sulfide had stimulated the secretion of extracellular polymeric substance, induced slight biogenic sulfur accumulation as microbial nuclei, and facilitated the appropriate amount of filamentous bacteria proliferation. Microbial metabolism functions analyses revealed a robust granular anammox coupled with sulfur denitrification in the sulfide-mediated anammox reactor, and the assembled granules exhibited exceptional tolerance to environmental stress. Significantly, the anammox bacteria (Candidatus_Brocadia) dominating the granules displayed satisfactory anammox activity (21.8 ± 2.1 mg N/g VSS h), and their produced nitrate was efficiently removed by the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (Thiobacillus) that predominantly occurred in the flocs. This collaboration ensured an efficient sulfide-mediated anammox granules system, achieving nitrogen removal efficiency exceeding 95 %. These results highlight the function of sulfide in improving the morphological property of anammox sludge as well as the creation of a favorable ecological niche for the functional microorganism, which is important to maintain the efficiency and robustness of the anammox process in treating wastewater.

Comparative genome analysis of endophytic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MR4: a potential biocontrol agent isolated from wild medicinal plant root tissue.

In this investigation, 396 endophytic bacterial strains from six indigenous medicinal plant species within the Xinjiang Tumor Peak National Nature Reserve were subjected to screening. The strain MR4 emerged as a noteworthy contender, demonstrating pronounced biocontrol capabilities coupled with exceptional cold tolerance. Through morphological scrutiny and comprehensive genomic sequencing, MR4 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Antagonistic assays revealed MR4's efficacy in suppressing the causative agents of cotton wilt and verticillium wilt, achieving inhibition rates surpassing 50%. Analyses, underpinned by PCR methodologies, indicated MR4's capacity to biosynthesize a minimum of eight distinct antimicrobial agents. The whole-genome sequencing data indicated that B. amyloliquefaciens MR4 had the genome size and GC content of 4,017,872bp and 47.14%, respectively, and 4191 coding genes were identified. The genome consists of a single chromosome and one plasmid. Moreover, it was augmented by annotations from various databases, including GO, KEGG, and COG. The pathogenicity of MR4 undergoes evaluation, while predictions concerning MR4's secondary metabolites have disclosed gene clusters for 13 varieties of these compounds, with particular emphasis on surfactins and fengycin. Comparative analyses with four paradigmatic strains shed light on MR4's genomic composition and its phylogenetic lineage within the Bacillus genus. The genomic data pertaining to MR4 have been duly submitted to the NCBI GenBank, bearing the accession numbers CP146236 (Chr1) and CP146237 (plas1). This study endeavors to furnish potent microbial resources for the biocontrol and enhancement of plant growth, thereby providing a theoretical groundwork for MR4's agronomic utilization.

Heat stress during reproductive development inhibits fertilization in olives

In this study, we investigated the effect of heat exposure during olive inflorescence on reproductive development. We hypothesized that male development processes during this period are particularly sensitive to high temperatures. We characterized the development of flowers and inflorescences under natural conditions in the cultivars 'Arbequina' and 'Koroneiki', and defined eight phenological stages, beginning with the emergence of reproductive buds until anthesis (international standard BBCH scale of the phenological inflorescence development phases 53–60). In addition, we examined the response of olive inflorescence and flowering, to two heat scenarios: prolonged exposure to moderately high temperatures and a two-hour concentrated heat shock treatment. Analysis of our data revealed that both treatments had a detrimental effect on the development and functioning of the tapetum, the innermost layer of the anther, which is essential for the development and functioning of pollen. Additionally, we found that the 'Arbequina' cultivar displayed relative tolerance to heat compared to 'Koroneiki' in terms of pollen germinability after heat stress. In contrast to the response of the above cultivars, the 'Souri' exhibited an exceptionally high sensitivity to heat. An assessment of pollen viability after in vitro heat shock treatment of 54 cultivars revealed that pollen from seven varieties, 'Niedda de Oliana', 'Lechín de Sevilla', 'Tonda Oliana', 'Tamir', 'Sigoise', 'Taggiasca', and 'Carrasquenha', showed exceptional tolerance to heat. These cultivars show a greater degree of suitability for cultivation in warm climates, (or in areas susceptible to extreme hot-spells). This study demonstrated that heat has a negative impact on the male reproductive system in olives, during early flower development and in mature pollen grains, which are relatively resistant to heat. Heat stress impaired pollen tube elongation capacity, and germination rate. Additionally, heat stress affected the ultrastructure of the external wall of the pollen grain, the exine, potentially impairing its ability to adhere to the stigma and fertilize the ovule. The sensitivity of olive reproductive capacity to heat is a genotype-dependent trait, allowing for the identification of heat-resistant cultivars for use as pollen donors and for development of new heat-resistant cultivars.

Gold-catalysed amine synthesis by reductive hydroamination of alkynes with nitroarenes.

Amines are the most pivotal class of organic motifs in pharmaceutical compounds. Here we provide a blueprint for a general synthesis of amines by catalyst differentiation enabled by triple Au-H/Au+/Au-H relay catalysis. The parent catalyst is differentiated into a set of catalytically active species to enable triple cascade catalysis, where each catalytic species is specifically tuned for one catalytic cycle. This strategy enables the synthesis of biorelevant amine motifs by reductive hydroamination of alkynes with nitroarenes. Using this triple cascade approach, we have achieved exceptional functional group tolerance, enabling the use of bulk chemical feedstocks as coupling partners for the amination of both simple and complex alkynes (>100 examples), including those derived from pharmaceuticals, peptides and natural products (>30 examples). The isolation and full crystallographic characterization of gold hydride and hydride-bridged gold complexes has garnered insights into the catalyst differentiation process of fundamental organometallic gold hydride complexes.

Broadband and low-reflection mid-infrared grating coupler for a perfectly vertical fiber-chip interface.

Short-wavelength mid-infrared (SWMIR) silicon photonics has gained significant attention due to its applications in sensing, spectroscopy, and communications. A perfectly vertical grating coupler is a valuable packaging technique that is convenient for chip-to-chip optical interconnects and has low risks of mechanical failure during testing. However, SWMIR grating couplers have fewer periods to tailor the diffracted light, hindering the improvement of bandwidths and backreflections. Herein, we demonstrate a perfectly vertical subwavelength grating coupler by using a modified inverse design approach. The device exhibits a coupling efficiency of -5.9 dB with a 1-dB bandwidth of ∼122 nm and a low backreflection of -19.2 dB at 2200 nm wavelengths. Besides, the device also exhibits exceptional spatial fiber misalignment tolerance. The study underscores the effectiveness of the inverse design strategy in subwavelength grating couplers, charting a path to advance the mid-infrared silicon photonic packaging.

BaFe12O19 Functional Porous Carbon Nanocomposite as an Electrocatalyst of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

AbstractIt is crucial to develop a non‐precious metal catalyst with high efficiency, affordable cost, and minimal environmental impact for conducting research on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells. In this study, BaFe12O19 functional porous carbon (BaFe12O19/PC) nanocomposite was successfully prepared using Fe2O3, BaCO3 and glucose as precursors. Meanwhile, the BaFe12O19/PC catalyst‐modified glassy carbon electrode, carbon rod, and Hg/HgO electrode were used as the working electrode, counter electrode, and reference electrode, respectively, to investigate the electrochemical behavior. The uniform distribution of nano‐scale BaFe12O19 particles in a porous carbon framework was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy characterization. In addition, a double‐layer interface (Fe/Fe3C) was formed between the porous carbon and the nano‐sized BaFe12O19 particles. Fe/Fe3C has a synergistic effect with C, facilitating the migration and transfer of electrons from BaFe12O19 to porous carbon. The BaFe12O19/PC nanocomposite exhibited a four‐electron pathway for electrocatalytic kinetics, showcasing a significantly elevated half‐wave potential of 0.77 V, an impressively reduced Tafel slope of 84.95 mV/dec, and exceptional tolerance towards methanol. It is important to highlight that the BaFe12O19/PC nanocomposite not only possess high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), but also demonstrate excellent stability. Consequently, this synthesized BaFe12O19/PC nanocomposite hold promising prospects as cost‐effective and efficient catalysts in fuel cell applications.

Non-Fluorinated Cyclic Ether-Based Electrolyte with Quasi-Conjugate Effect for High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries.

Fluorinated ether-based electrolytes are commonly employed in lithium metal batteries (LMBs) to attenuate the coordination ability of ether solvents with Li+ and induce inorganic-rich interphase, whereas fluorination inevitably introduces exorbitant production expenses and environmental anxieties. Herein, a non-fluorinated molecular design strategy has been conceptualized by incorporating methoxy as an electron-donating group to generate a quasi-conjugate effect for tuning the affinity of Li+-solvent, thereby enabling the cyclic ether solvent 2-methoxy-1,3-dioxolane with weak solvation ability and exceptional Li metal-compatibility. Accordingly, the optimized electrolyte exhibits anion-dominant solvation structure for inorganic-rich interphase and fulfills an impressive Li plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency of 99.6%. As-fabricated Li||LiFePO4 full cells with limited Li (N/P = 2.5) showcase a high capacity retention of 83% after 150 cycles, indicating excellent cycling stability. Moreover, the full LMBs demonstrate exceptional tolerance towards a wide temperature range from -20 oC to 60 oC, displaying a remarkable capacity retention of 90% after 110 cycles at -20 oC. Such a molecular design strategy offers a promising avenue for electrolyte engineering beyond fluorination in order to cultivate high-performance LMBs.

Room-Temperature, Solution-Processed, Robust, Transparent, and Conductive SiOx/AgNW Nanocomposite Coating.

AgNW networks show high promise as a conductive material due to excellent flexibility, low resistance, high transparency, and ease of large-scale preparation. However, the application of AgNW networks has been hindered by their inherent characteristics, such as easy oxidation degradation, chemical corrosion, and structural instability at high temperatures. In this study, a dense SiOx protective layer derived from perhydropolysilazane was introduced to fabricate a robust SiOx/AgNW nanocomposite coating through an all-solution process at room temperature. The achieved nanocomposite coating shows outstanding thermal stability up to 450 °C, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, and excellent mechanical performance by maintaining stability after 10,000 cycles of bending at a radius of 2.5 mm, 1000 cycles of peeling, and 1200 cycles of wearing. Meanwhile, the nanocomposite coating demonstrates exceptional chemical tolerance against HCl, Na2S, and organic solvents. A transparent heater based on the nanocomposite coating achieves a remarkable benchmark with a maximum temperature of 400 °C at 20 V. These features highlight the potential of the nanocomposite coating in flexible electronics, optoelectronics, touch screens, and high-performance heaters.

Ag-Cu2O Supported Biomass-Derived rGO for Catalyzing Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling.

The search for cost-effective, efficient, and ecofriendly heterogeneous catalysts for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction is crucial due to challenges with expensive, toxic homogeneous catalysts. This study centrally aims at crafting a pioneering green catalyst by adorning reduced graphene oxide (rGO), sourced from basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum L.), with an Ag-Cu2O composite structure. Comprehensive characterization of the Ag-Cu2O/rGO nanocomposite was conducted through FTIR, SEM, hHR-TEM, EDS, XPS, XRD, TGA, and N2 adsorption/desorption analyses. Results showed that nanosized Ag-Cu2O particles were partially integrated into rGO sheets derived from basil seeds, acting as active species for oxidative addition with aryl halides in the SMR. The catalytic efficacy of this robust nanocatalyst was assessed in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions, targeting the synthesis of biaryls employing various aryl halides and aryl boronic acids. The findings underscore that the Ag-Cu2O/rGO nanocatalyst manifests rapid reaction kinetics (15 min) alongside commendable yields (99%). The Ag-Cu2O/rGO demonstrates impressive recyclability, maintaining catalytic efficiency over four cycles. Utilizing it as a green substrate for metal loading highlights its potential, offering well-defined coordination sites. This approach facilitates stable heterogeneous catalyst fabrication, crucial for significant bond formations. Notable features include broad applicability, exceptional functional tolerance, scalability, and practicality. Moreover, it holds promise for automating safe processes and enabling efficient late-stage functionalization of complex molecules with moderate to high efficiency, presenting promising prospects for various applications in chemical synthesis.